Puss Pockets in My Throat.

Updated on
October 25, 2008

B.S.
asks from
Kansas City, MO
on October 23, 2008

18
answers

I've had an extremely sore throat for a few days now. I decided to go to the CVS clinic this morning to get swabbed for Strep. That was negative. She just told me I have puss pockets in my throat and wanted to give me a numbing mouthwash. They hurt soooooooooooooooo bad I can barely swallow. I don't have my tonsils anymore. I had a fever yesterday and a really achy body but that seems to be gone today. I haven't had a runny nose, coughing, sneezing, etc. I tried to gargle with warm salt water last night and it hurt so bad my body gagged. My body woke in a panic last night because I felt like I couldn't breathe because my throat was covered in drainage and swollen. I don't have PCP anymore as ours just left the office. This is killing me and as you are aware, moms don't get sick days. And ideas?

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So What Happened?

Thanks, ladies. I ended up going to UC because my tongue was swelling and I couldn't swallow at all. Turns out it is Strep. Now I'll just enjoy my lazy Friday on the couch- and actually have a reason!

Featured Answers

J.L.

answers from
Springfield
on
October 24, 2008

I know this sounds really awful, but it does work for sore throats-try gargling with warm water and apple cider vinegar. I make it with about 2 tablespoons to about 3 or 4 ounces of warm water or stronger if you can stand it. It will relieve a sore throat almost instantly and can be used as often as needed. Good luck!

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J.L.

answers from
Springfield
on
October 24, 2008

I know this sounds really awful, but it does work for sore throats-try gargling with warm water and apple cider vinegar. I make it with about 2 tablespoons to about 3 or 4 ounces of warm water or stronger if you can stand it. It will relieve a sore throat almost instantly and can be used as often as needed. Good luck!

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S.G.

answers from
St. Louis
on
October 23, 2008

B., you need to be checked for mono. My daughter had it and it took us months to find out becuase no one checked for it. It would act the way you described and then she would seem to get better only to get sick again and again and again.

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T.M.

answers from
Kansas City
on
October 24, 2008

I just saw this thread and thought I'd respond to the person who talked about tonsils returning. I had my tonsils out when I was 5 and they did grow back, I don't have the trouble with them that I did when I was little, but they're back.
I'm glad you found out that it was strep, usually the pus pockets mean that there is strep. Some times the 10 minute test doesn't show the infection, but the 48 hour one usually comes up positive. I've also found that a liquid tylenol usually help the sore throat, as it coats the throat as it goes down. The brand I use is Tylenol Sore Throat (day or night formula) My kids think its a miracle medicine.

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S.V.

answers from
St. Louis
on
October 23, 2008

Sometimes the HSV-1 type of herpes (the prodominently oral herpes such as cold sores that 85% of humans have)... can cause sores in the throat too. If that is what is, it should clear up within a couple weeks. I'm dealing with one stubborn cold sore under my tongue right now and one on the side of my tongue. If you want to see if that's what it is, you can request your doctor to swab again and check for HSV-1, it's an easy test.

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A.H.

answers from
St. Louis
on
October 24, 2008

Hi Brittany,

I am very sorry that you have this issue. I too had a simalar problem last year. I had one large abscess in the back of my throat on the right side where the tonsil used to be. It started with a sinus infection and then turned into an abscess. I too was in a lot of pain. I was sick to my stomach and also had a fever. I was put on antibiotics and I was able to drain the abscess on my own by pushing the fluid out. My abscess had ruptured and that is why I could get it to drain. Depending on the size of these puss pockets, they too my rupture. You should be on antibiotics. The fact that you feel sick and have a fever are symptoms of an infection. Not to mention the puss is the best example of an infection. My sinus infectoin turned into a throat infection. I too was negative for strep. I know that when it comes to throat infections/abscesses/puss pockets, it can be serious. Please go back to the doctor or go somewhere else to seek a second opinion. In really severe cases, people can go septic and become hospitalised. I hope this has been of some help to you. I pray you can get the medical attention you need quickly.

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L.W.

answers from
St. Louis
on
October 24, 2008

Hi B.,
I know you already responded saying that the 2nd culture came back as strep, but I wanted to post and say that there is another viral infection out there that does cause similar symptoms (my daughter and kids in my day care all just had it). It normally affects mostly kids b/c adults build up immunity to it after having it (there are a few diff strains of it tho so it is possible to get it more than once). They call it "hand, foot and mouth disease". Not sure why they call it disease but it's a virus. The first sypmtoms you see are higher fevers and then notice sores in the throat (they can even be bloody and the throat can swell that it can make it hard for them to swallow). There can also be rash on hands and feet of red bumps, but this doesnt always appear. It is highly contagious, but is extremely hard to prevent because time from exposure to sypmtoms appearing can be 48 to 72 hrs after. There is nothing doctors will give for it b/c it's viral and they just say to use ibuprofen/tylenol to control symptoms. Every one of us parents of the kids who just had it swore they all had strep b/c it presents like that, but a good thing to know is that strep rarely occurs in children younger than 3 yrs old. This virus occurs mostly in 10 and younger our doctor said. Hope this helps someone who's children (or adult b/c it is possible) has these symptoms.
hope you feel better :)

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J.N.

answers from
Kansas City
on
October 23, 2008

B.,

Try chewing aspirin gum. My doctor advised it for a sore throat years ago. I think you can find Aspergum in most pharmacies it will reduce the swelling. I used it when I got brachiolarengis, I felt like my lungs were on fire. Once the gum has a chance to work the salt water gargle might be able to flush the area. The severe silent reflux has probably damaged the lining of the esophagus and that is why the puss pockets developed. Hope this works.

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S.L.

answers from
Kansas City
on
October 23, 2008

Sip the warm fluids, especially chicken bullion because it will help with the salt water treatments and even though it's hard to swallow, you need fluid and rest and also lots of vitamin c, echinacea, garlic is good too. Rent those movies, forget the laundry and just get better. It sounds very bad. I'm so sorry.

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K.

answers from
Kansas City
on
October 23, 2008

I had a similar problem last year. It ended up being thrush - i know gross! LOL It's basically a yeast infection in your mouth. I got it from a recent round of antibiotics but my Dr. said a person could get it at any time. The back of my throat went from painful to swollen and numb feeling and then it ended up on my tongue. It was horrible! If there is a chance this is what you have it won't fix itself. I had to gargle with an oral form of nystatin for 2 weeks. Good Luck!!!

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C.M.

answers from
Kansas City
on
October 24, 2008

For future reference and for anyone else you might be reading this, Strep does not always show up on the rapid Strep test. It is a tricky little bacteria. My SIL sister is a strep carrier and everytime they go see them, one of her kids comes back with strep so we have had LOTS of experience with it. Fever, sore throat, puss pockets are all the classic signs. In fact, the first time I got strep, the doctor looked in my throat and cancelled the test because it was so obvious that I had strep. If you have puss pockets, you need an antibiotic. I can't believe they didn't give you one even though the test came back negitive. I sure if they had the more in depth test the first time, it would have been clearly positive. I don't think that they can do that at CVS though. Next time just make an appointment with your family doctor. The copay is usually cheaper and they usually can squeeze you in for illnesses. Also, we have had lots more luck at Walgreens then at the CVS clinic. Walgreens only charges the regular copay instead of the specialist copay.

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M.B.

answers from
St. Louis
on
October 23, 2008

Ugh I had the same thing a long time ago. It was horrible, I wanted to die. It lasted about five days. My throat hurt so bad I couldnt swallow. I could see the puss pockets back there, eventually they harden up and I picked it out. SO gross but once that was gone it felt sooo better. Sorry you feel so bad, I know its horrible. Luckly I didnt have kids yet. I dont know how I would of done it. Hope you feel better soon!

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D.A.

answers from
St. Louis
on
October 24, 2008

I get HORRIBLE bacterial throat infections 1-2x per year. They are awful, so I feel for you! Mine always test negative for strep, but if I don't get an antibiotic, they won't go away and eventually begin to errode the back of my throat. Mine have gotten so painful that I've taken tylenol w/codine to ease the pain. Eat lots of popsicles, take ibuprophen and/or tylenol, and see if you can get an antibiotic. It doesn't sound like a typical viral infection to me.

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J.R.

answers from
Lafayette
on
October 23, 2008

ive been told or read somewhere that in rare cases you could get tonsils back??? i have no idea if thats true, sounds far fetched to me. But sounds like some sort of infection, she didnt give you any antibiotics?

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A.D.

answers from
Kansas City
on
October 24, 2008

Glad to hear your update and that you got treated...it just sounded WAY to much like Strep. Unfortunately, those "rapid strep tests" are fals negative way too often...and if someone is presenting the way you say you were, I can't imagine not treating them with antibiotics while waiting for an actual culture to come back from a "send away" lab.
Hope you are feeling better soon!

P.S. Watch the kiddos...this can be really contagious, and the little ones might only present with low fevers, going off their food or drinks, and some get nausea and vomit. Take them to the peds asap if you think they might be infected, even if it's mild symptoms and tell the peds that you were diagnosed and treated recently.